WELCOME!


Welcome to Squirrel's slightly nutty world of rubber stamping, papercraft, cats, Formula 1 and a variety of other off-the-wall topics. It's fabulous to see you and I hope you enjoy your time here. Please do pop back and visit me again soon!


Wednesday 30 June 2010

Tilda Wedding Candy Reminder

Just in case you haven't already seen it - I have Tilda wedding candy on offer, and a choice!  Link is at the top of my sidebar or you can get there this way

Candy is open until 16 July so there is time yet to enter but I wouldn't want you to miss out!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge - N for Noel

Hi All!  Thanks so much to everyone who took part in our Mistletoe Challenge and the Blog Hop.  Some of the DT had secret candy available but more about that later ......

On to this fortnight's ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE and we are up to N so our theme is Noel with an optional extra of embossing.  We are so thrilled to be sponsored this time around by Dulcie from Wild Rose Studio - great to have you on board hunny!

For my card, I have used a Christmas Tilda, masked onto the Magnolia Noel, coloured with Copics.  DPs are Wild Rose Studio from the polka dot and male collections (I just love blue and pink together).  Embossing on Bazzil Bling done with a Cuttlebug folder and the Bazzil Bling snowflakes are a Martha Stewart punch.



So, the burning question - was I hiding candy for the Blog Hop?  YES!  And the winner of my candy is Sam from Whisper Cards - Congratulations Sam - email (squirrel1964@hotmail.co.uk) your details please sweetie so I can get your candy on its way to you.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sunday 27 June 2010

They Think It's All Over ......

...... looks like it is now!  Two losses to Germany in one day - Formula 1 and Football.  Oops.  Anyway, not bothered about the footie - it means the Toadster will be able to get his cheap underpants sooner than expected - and the next F1 is the British, yay!!

Over at HIGH HOPES STAMPS challenge today the theme is "super star" and I just knew I had to use this fabulous starry paper from the Forever Friends Party Time collection.  But what image to use with it? 

Well what else could you use but a chameleon (spelling?), called Leon!  Coloured with Copics, mats are Bazzil Bling and DCWV Brights.  Stars (now I know why I hoard things) from stash.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Saturday 26 June 2010

Penny Black Paper Patch Puss!

Afternoon all, pheeww what a scorcher!  It's our next-door-neighbour's twin girls birthday party later and we have seen a succession of young ladies arriving already - neighbours have warned us that they are getting the pool ready so it might get a bit "screamy" later!  Yep, looking forward to that ........!

Anyhoo, over at PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE the theme is Paper Patch.  "Ooh" says me "I can do that", and I did, but it took a lot longer than planned but never mind, done now, and here it is -


I've used Tulip Jungle for the image, coloured with ProMarkers.  The papers are three sheets from the Dovecraft Back To Basics collection, all cut into neat little squares (!) for my quilt.  Yellow and purple mat card is from DCWV Neutral Stack.  Sentiment is a-la-squirrel - I think it is the sort of thing Vince would say if he was popping out of the tulips!

Hope you are having a fabbie weekend - don't forget to slip-slap-slop!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 36 - It's In The Bag!

For some reason I have the TISWAS song going around in my head ....... so that must mean it is Saturday morning!  And you know what Saturdays mean?  Of course you do, it's TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge day!

First of all, thank you so much for all your fabulous Sugar & Spice entries last week, you were loving that one.  Do check back to the TG blog to see who has been selected as the winner.

And on to this week - I think it was my teamie Sarah who suggested this one initially (she always likes to live dangerously does our Sarah) and our Captain, Net, agreed it was a corker so we are asking you to have a go at making a simple gift bag.  Let's face it, for me, the simpler the better LOL! 

So here is my little effort

After many failed attempts with scrap paper with folds in strange places, I gave in and worked out a template.  I used a sheet of 12x12 Making Memories paper which I cut down to size, scored, folded and glued.  I stamped Tilda with her gifts, coloured with Copics, cut her out and glued to the front of the bag.  I folded over the top of the bag, punched two holes and used Dovecraft flower brads as fasteners.  The little tag I cut with a Cuttlebug die.  Told you it was simple!

Now I know that there are squillions of you out there with more talent than me so I shall be expecting to see loads of gift bags entered into the challenge.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Friday 25 June 2010

LOTV Challenge # 56 - Dawny's Sketch


Hello Crafters! Yes, it is me, and yes, it is Friday - you are not imagining things.  Me and the Toadster are taking another long weekend.  Yay!

And to start my weekend off nicely, what better way than a little bit of crafting?!  Mind you, it is like a bread oven in my conservatory/craft space so am feeling a little wilted now.  My once fluffy tail is a tad droopy, but the less said about that the better.  I shall go and stick my head in the fridge shortly, that'll make me feel better.
Anyho, I digress - here is my card for this week's super LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge which features a fab sketch from Dawny

I turned the sketch upside down so that the text was on the right side of the image I wanted to use.

I used the sweetest baby stamp from LOTV's recent release and it just felt like it needed to be a vintage feel.  Papers are Dovecraft and K & Co with the red matting (actually the reverse of a deep pink) from Bazzil Bling.  The sentiment is from Sugar Nellie, it came with my Little Cotton Rabbits, and I think it works ok.  Craftwork Cards Card Candy to finish off - thanks Kath, these will last me a lifetime hun!

Sunday 20 June 2010

One Card = Five Challenges

Yeah, I know - five challenges doesn't sound a huge amount - especially when I know there are some of you who manage to find ten or twelve at a time, but it's enough for me to be going on with! 

So, the challenges are
High Hopes - Anything Goes
Passion For Promarkers - Sketch & Male Theme
Just Cute Bears - Monochrome
Creative Inspirations - One For The Boys; and
Cupcake Craft Challenge - One For The Boys

So here is my card ..........

I've used High Hopes stamp "Beary Sweet Sign", Basic Grey Kraft paper, DCWV Neutral Stack, and loads of ProMarkers - Sandstone, Tan, Caramel, Pastel Beige, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Terracotta, Burnt Sienna and Walnut.  The sentiment, which I think fits Bears sign perfectly, is Lili Of The Valley.  I used Rich Cocoa Memento ink for main image and sentiment.  I wanted to use buttons but didn't have any brown ones so had to fake it with the help of my smallest Nestie circle and my Japanese screw punch.

Thanks for dropping by.
Hugs, Squirrel xx

Saturday 19 June 2010

Penny Black Saturday + Sketch Saturday

Hope where you are your weather is a little more predictable than we are having today!  All four seasons in one day it seems, sunshine, rain, heavy rain, wind, more rain, gale - we've had the lot.  Still, my poor crispy garden is appreciating the water, even if it is coming in by the bucketful.

Saturdays bring so many challenges but the two that I have been combining most often are Penny Black Saturday Challenge and Sketch Saturday so you'd be disappointed if I didn't do it again.  So I have.

Penny Black's theme this week is Holiday/Travel - I've gone for the travel direction; and
Sketch Saturday have a super sketch ......

And here is my card - let me introduce you to Mimi from Penny Black, this stamp is called Easy Rider.  Ain't she just a poppet?  Papers are all from Dovecraft Back To Basics collection.  Sentiment is Personal Impressions.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday!  Hugs, Squirrel xx

CANDY (Tilda)

As June is the traditional month for weddings, and I am celebrating reaching 30,000 hits, I have a little candy for you - well, actually it is two candies, you have a choice!




















The two winners will receive a brand new, never been opened, Magnolia stamp of a wedding couple.  When responding please make sure you let me know whether you prefer option 1 or 2.

These two candies are my little way of saying THANK YOU to all my wonderful and loyal followers.

Candy will be open until my birthday on 16 July and I may even add a surprise extra or two just because of that (although at my age, there is no guarantee I will remember LOL).  It will close at 10.00pm (UK time)on the 16th and I will announce the winner on 18th July.

So, if you are a follower, old or new, and would like to win one of these little cuties, please leave me a comment and let me know which one you prefer.  Email entries are accepted as I know some of my followers don't have blogs.

If you could add a link to your own blog to spread the word it would be appreciated.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 35 - Sugar & Spice

Welcome to another TOTALLY GORJUSS week!

Wow did you stun us with all your totally brilliant male cards last week - for a gang of crafters who say they hate male cards, you pulled out all the stops!  Don't forget to check back to the challenge blog to see who has been selected as the winner.

And so to this week's challenge.  We'd like to see some Sugar & Spice please - entirely up to you how you interpret that but you will see from the DT cards that we've pretty much all thought along the same lines!

I ended up making two cards for the DT and couldn't decide which one I really liked the best so I'm showing you them both.  Both Tilda, both coloured with Copics.  The papers on the first are Basic Grey, sentiment is Craftwork Cards.  The "wishes" that Tilda is blowing have been highlighted with a Sakura glitter pen but that doesn't show in the photo.

The papers on my second card are a mixture of Wild Rose Studio and Forever Friends.  Again the sentiment is Craftwork Cards and the flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts with the leaves being a Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks ever so much for stopping by to see me.  Hope you are having a great weekend whatever you are up to.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Friday 18 June 2010

How Do They Do It?

I'm sat here, watching a romantic film - "Message In A Bottle" with Kevin Costner - ten mins from the end of it, with tears pouring down my face and the Toad comes downstairs from his bath, plonks himself down and right in the middle of a really touching bit he starts munching biscuits, loudly, and slurping tea, right in my ear.

Talk about spoiling the moment !

Wednesday 16 June 2010

ABC Christmas Challenge - M for Mistletoe & Wine + BLOG HOP

Hi all - well here we are at halfway to Christmas (ooh no!) and to celebrate, the ABC Christmas Challenge is having a little blog hop.

All you need to do is work your way around the blogs of the DT members in alphabetical order - you should have arrived here from Samantha (if you didn't then please start at the main ABC blog).  When you leave me, your next step on the hop is over to our wonderful GDT, Sharon.  Remember that you need to answer each question posed by the DT to be eligible for the candy!

Once you have done all that, head back to the main ABC Christmas Challenge blog to answer the final question and post your challenge card.

Some of the DT members will be offering candy but it's being kept a surprise as to who and what so you had better make sure you remember to leave a comment with your answer to each question!

And so to this fortnight's challenge which is Mistletoe & Wine with an optional extra of sewing (real or faux) and our wonderful sponsor this time around is STAMP AND CREATE.

Here's my card

I've used Rodney from Pink Gem Designs with his mistletoe all ready for his kiss.  Paper is from stash.  And the wine? Well, the colour of the paper, his scarf is coloured with a Burgundy ProMarker and the sentiment (which is more of a whine - geddit?!)

And finally my question:  Where do you hang your stocking?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Monday 14 June 2010

Just Magnolia - Mina's Sketch

Now, I wish I could say I was happy with my attempt at the Just Magnolia challenge this week, but I'm not.  The first effort ended up in the bin and this second try is bordering on heading that way too!  Sorry Mina for not doing justice to your sketch hun.











And Mr Blogger is driving me nuts with not being able to place photos in the right slot!  He keeps putting them at the top of the post - grrrrrrrr.  Anyway, here is my card....

My favourite sitting Tilda, coloured with Copics, MME papers, peel-off borders from stash, delicious raindrop gems found in stash but bought in Lakeland when they used to do craft stuff.


And I've received an award!  From Linda and from Sarah ...... thanks guys



I have to tell you six statements about me, only one of which is true, and you have to guess which one it is.  Then I pass this on to six blogging buddies.  Ok, here are the facts ma'am

1.  I have written a novel
2.  I show hubby every new craft item
3.  I have raced in saloon cars at Brands Hatch and won
4.  I love spinach
5.  My dream holiday would be extreme sports in New Zealand
6.  I support Norwich City Football Club

So, which one is true?  And the six blogging buddies I will pass this on to are Marcea, Uma, Mandy, Delphine, Cynthia and Sarah.


Now then, I don't know if it's that time of year or if I need to give myself a kick-up-the-crafty-bum but I have noticed that visitor/comment numbers have really dropped off over the last month (I have checked back to make sure I haven't said anything offensive).   I know I've not been able to comment as much as I feel I should do lately but I do try to keep up with you all as best as I can.  Well, as I'm now not that far short of 30,000 hits I shall be offering a little sweet stuff fairly soon as a thank you to my stalwart faithfuls who keep on hanging in there with me so do keep an eye out over the next couple of weeks for that.

Hugs, Squirrel xx 

Sunday 13 June 2010

Me And My Cat - LOTV # 55



Found another lovely sketch to play with today over on the Lili Of The Valley challenge and there is an additional twist of some flowers - who could resist?!

Here's the sketch:











And here is my card - I've used the super cute Me And My Cat stamp with Forever Friends Pink Parfait papers and green Bazzil card for matting.  Flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts. Leave are Martha Stewart punch.  Image coloured with Copics.






















It's another F1 weekend so shall be settling down soon for the Canadian Grand Prix - a race that is usually guaranteed to have some interesting antics.  I often wonder if I had continued with my racing days whether I could ever have made it to those giddy heights.  I doubt it though, whoever heard of a squirrel in a F1 car - my tail would get sucked into the airbox!!

Thanks for popping by.  Hugs, Squirrel xx

Tea For Two? PBSC # 105

A fabulous sketch this week over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge and one I shall definitely be using again.

And here is my card - I've used "Tea Cozy" by Penny Black, coloured with ProMarkers.  DPs are Papermania Regency collection with Bazzil cardstock for matting.  Sentiment is Craftwork Cards.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Saturday 12 June 2010

Totally Gorjuss # 34 - Cards For Boys

Hopefully, if Mr Blogger is playing the game, this post should be scheduled to pop up on Saturday morning as I'm having a weekend break with the Toadster!  Feels very strange writing this for the future.

As it is a new week, it must be a new challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS and this week our challenge is Cards For Boys.  Stop groaning!  I can hear you all now "don't like doing male cards", but that is no excuse.  Sorry, but no.  There are so many brilliant images out there that I want you all to get crafting.  Right now!

As always, the Design Team have created some super inspiration for you to please make sure you pop over to take a peek.  Here is my DT card - I have used High Hopes image "Dwight" and he is coloured with ProMarkers.  Papers are a mix of Basic Grey and Bazzil.  Sentiment is Lili Of The Valley.

Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful creations (just think of all the crafting time you'll have now the blinkin' football is on for a month)!!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Thursday 10 June 2010

Congratulations Mina!


The ultra talented super crafter that is Mina Hartley at Pinkpuds is having a celebration - 750 followers and 150,000 hits!  That is one serious achievement Mina but I am not surprised, your blog is out of this world.

Mina is offering a massive candy, which is open until 20 June, so thank you Mina for being so generous.

Congratulations sweetie.

Squirrel xx

Sunday 6 June 2010

Just Cute Bears Father's Day + Tilda + A Birthday

Having a good Sunday everyone?  I hope so!  Really hot and sticky here and we've had thunder rumbling around in the distance since the wee early hours.  Almost too uncomfortable to craft as the conservatory is like an oven.  Baked Squirrel.  Hmmm, which makes me think of Baked Alaska, which makes me think of those Alaska Rolls we used to have as kids - could just manage a slice of one of those right now ........

Anyway, a few cards for you - the first one is for a challenge with JUST CUTE BEARS and the theme is Father's Day




















Adorable Busy Bear washing his car from Lili Of The Valley (note the registration number), papers are Basic Grey with DCWV matting. Sentiment is Personal Impressions. Image coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

Then a birthday card for a mate who is always bright and cheerful so I thought the card should be too.

Image is Missy from High Hopes, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, dress is paper pieced with some spotty Doodlebug paper, DPs are Basic Grey and sentiment is Lili of The Valley.

Lastly a Tilda, just for the fun of it - I love colouring Tilda when I need to relax, she just seems to do it for me.

Not sure what the name of this Tilda is but she is one of my favourites.  Masked with the Magnolia swing stamp. Coloured with ProMarkers.  Again, papers are Basic Grey.  Sentiment is Craftwork Cards.

That's me crafted out for today so now going to put my "dinner" head on and try and rustle up something edible!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Saturday 5 June 2010

Totally Gorjuss # 33 - A Sketch

Has summer arrived at last?  The past few days have been glorious but I hear a nasty rumour that we may get rain this afternoon and it's all downhill again tomorrow!  I am not a heat lover but I have to say that my poor old creaky knees are enjoying it being dry weather.  Cold and damp does nothing to help the scampering!!

Anyhoo, enough of my drivel, it's Saturday and that means it's TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge day, whoohoo.  Thanks for all your fabulous wingy-thingy entries last week - I didn't realise there were so many images with wings on!  Don't forget to check back to the TG blog to see who is the winner of last week's challenge.

As it is the first Saturday of the month, Net has produced another wonderful sketch for you to play with.


Now I'm not quite sure what happened to the sketch when I imported it to my page but I think you get the idea - if there is any doubt then do hop over to the blog to see Net's sketch uncorrupted.  Here is my take on it.

I have used one of the sweetest little bears I have seen in a long time - she's from the Busy Bears range of stamps from Lili of The Valley.  Ain't she cute just sat there preening?!  Papers are all Basic Grey and the sentiment is handwritten.  Image coloured with Copics.

I do hope you all can find time between the BBQs to squeeze in some crafting and I shall look forward to seeing you over at TOTALLY GORJUSS

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Friday 4 June 2010

100th Birthday!

One of my colleagues at work had asked me a while ago if I would make a birthday card for her mum.  I had forgotten all about it until she came to find me late yesterday afternoon - her mum is going to be 100 in ten days time and she had found a lovely photo of her and asked me to do something with it.  She had also written out the words she wanted as the lady is Italian. 

The photo is quite small so it was a teensy bit of a challenge to come up with a card that it didn't look lost on.

She has seen the photo of it today and confirmed that she is very happy with it so all I need to do now is make a box for it.  Papers are a mixture of Wild Rose Studio and Forever Friends and Daisy & Dandelion (she'd already said she'd like pink and lilac).  I used the same pink paper inside.  Flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts, leaves are a Martha Stewart punch and pearls from stash.  The other criteria was that it mustn't be too fussy as "mum isn't sentimental and she's likely to bin it in a few days"!!!  I didn't need to know that last bit!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Wednesday 2 June 2010

ABC Christmas Challenge - L for Lights (+ tree)

2nd of June already - where is the year going?!  And as it is the 2nd June, it means it is time for another challenge from ABC Christmas Challenge which this time around is being hosted by Lorraine.  Lols letter is L and our theme is LIGHTS with the optional extra of tree and our sponsor is the wonderful Simon Says Stamp

Before I show you my DT card, I must just thank everyone who puckered up and joined in the K for Kisses challenge - don't forget to check back to the blog to see who has been selected for the Top 3 and the overall winner.

So, here we go then

I've used this adorable image from Penny Black which, for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of, coloured with Copics.  Cardstock is DCWV Bright Stack and the papers are an old DCWV Christmas Stack.  Martha Stewart border punch and a little bit of (disasterous) Glamour Dust.

Hope to see you all over at the challenge - remember you have two weeks to get your creations entered!

Hugs, Squirrel xx
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